Police have succeeded in enlisting a state witness against former Netanya Deputy Mayor Shimshon Shar, a member of the chareidi community. Shar was arrested on Tuesday and questioned at length.

Police report that a clandestine investigation was ongoing for months before deciding to arrest Shar, who headed the city’s planning committee. It is alleged that for years, he would accept bribes from contractors and askanim, who received preferential treatment from him in return.

He was under investigation back in 2008 for allegedly receiving gifts and bribes but that was closed due to a lack of evidence against him.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)